The VA Office at Mississippi Delta Community College provides Veterans, Reservists, and their dependents assistance in obtaining the educational benefits to which they are entitled.

The office is responsible for submitting enrollment certifications for new and continuing students to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as answering questions veteran students or dependents may have concerning their educational benefits.

Benefit Information

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides education benefits to eligible Service Members, Veterans, and certain dependents and survivors.  You may receive financial support through the VA for undergraduate, vocational and technical training, licensing and certifications available at Mississippi Delta Community College.

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Chapter 33: POST – 9/11 GI BILL

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides to eligible Service Members and Veterans up to 36 months of education benefits which may include financial support for school tuition and fees, books and supplies, and housing. You may also receive reimbursement for License or certification tests (SAT, ACT, etc). You may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits if you:

• Have at least 90 aggregate days of qualifying active service after September 10, 2001 or
• Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001

If you are in the Armed Forces, you may be able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse and child(ren). Generally, you must use your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits within 15 years from your last period of active service of at least 90 days.

 

Chapter 30: MONTGOMERY GI BILL – ACTIVE DUTY

Chapter 30 provides up to 36 months of financial assistance for educational pursuits, including college, vocational/technical training. These benefits are paid directly to you on a monthly basis. 

You may be eligible for Chapter 30 benefits while you are on or after you separate from active duty. At a minimum, you must have a high school diploma or GED. To receive benefits after separating, you must have received an honorable discharge. You generally have 10 years from your last date of separation from active duty to use your Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty benefits.

 

Chapter 1606: MONTGOMERY GI BILL – SELECTED RESERVE

Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve or Chapter 1606 provides up to 36 months of financial assistance for educational pursuits, including college and vocational / technical training. Chapter 1606 benefits are available to members of the Selected Reserve of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or the Army or Air National Guard. Generally these benefits are paid directly to you on a monthly basis.

You may be eligible for Chapter 1606 benefits if you have a 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, complete your Initial Active Duty for Training, serve in a drilling unit and remain in good standing, and obtain a high school diploma or equivalency. The Guard and Reserves decide if you are eligible, while VA makes the payments for the program. Generally, your benefits for this chapter end on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

 

Chapter 1607: RESERVE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (REAP)

REAP or Chapter 1607 is an education benefit that provides up to 36 months of educational assistance to obtain undergraduate degrees or vocational/technical training at MDCC. REAP benefits are available to members of a reserve component call or ordered to active duty or full-time National Guard duty in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. Eligible reserve components include: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard Reserve; the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, and Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserves (IRR).

You may be eligible for REAP benefits if you are a member of a reserve component and served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation. The allowance payable under REAP is a percentage rate based on the number of days you serve on active duty.

 

Chapter 32: POST-VIETNAM ERA EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VEAP)

The Post-Vietnam Era Educational Assistance Program or Chapter 32 is an education benefit available to you if you made contributions from your military pay before April 1, 1987, to participate in this program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government.

Benefit entitlement is 1 to 36 months depending on the number of contributions you made to VEAP. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use your VEAP benefits. If you have not completely used your entitlement after 10 years, your remaining contributions will automatically be refunded.

 

Chapter 35: SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Chapter 35 provides assistance for degree and certificate programs available at MDCC. You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

• A Veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise from active service in the Armed Forces.
• A Veteran who died from any cause while such permanent and total service-connected disability existed.
• A Service member who died during active military service.
• A Service member missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.
• A Service member forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.
• A Service member who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability.

This program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. If you are the child, you generally must use your benefits between the ages of 18 and 26. If you are the spouse, your benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of the death of your spouse.

A surviving spouse who meets the criteria below may be eligible for benefits for 20 years from the date of death:

• VA rated your spouse permanently and totally disabled with an effective date within three years from discharge, or
• Your spouse died on active duty

 

Chapter 31: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Chapter 31 offers eligible Veterans education benefits if he or she received or aggravated a service-connected disability on or after September 16, 1940, which entitles him or her to DVA disability compensation and who is in need of vocational rehabilitation because his or her disability creates an employment handicap.  Benefits may be provided for up to 48 months and are available for 12 years from the date when the veteran is notified of entitlement.

 

**Eligibility for these benefits is determined by a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.